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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Modeling and optimization of permanent magnetic motors

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis develops analytic models for the prediction and optimization of radial-flux permanent magnet motor torque and efficiency. It also facilitates the design optimization of electromagnetically-powered rotorcraft by characterizing optimal motor performance over a wide range of motor mass. The solution of the Poisson Equation, found as a function of the three spatial coordinates, is applied to the prediction of motor fluxes. Back EMF waveforms of prototype motors are measured in order to validate the analytical predictions. The solution of the magneto-quasi-static Maxwell's Equations are applied to the analysis of eddy currents and torque measurements are made to verify the theoretical predictions. Simplified motor models are discovered which yield symbolic solutions for optimal motor parameters as a function of mass. The Monte Carlo method is applied to the empirically-based motor model to compute optimal motor dimensions, number of magnet poles, and magnet height versus motor active mass for arbitrary material parameter values.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
2008

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Pinkham, Andrew P
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Elliot Ranger and James L. Kirtley, Jr.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46004
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/46004

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Pinkham, Andrew P. Modeling and optimization of permanent magnetic motors. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46004